Vigil along Bangladesh border to be tightened

Aizawl/Agartala, July 15 (IANS) Mizoram and Tripura government have asked the security forces to maintain a maximum vigil along the Bangladesh border to foil any attempt of intrusion and illegal cross-border movement, officials said here on Friday.

An official of the Mizoram home department said the Mizoram government has instructed the police, Central Para-Military Forces (CPMF), Border Security Force (BSF) and the intelligence agencies to maintain strict and close vigil on the border in view of the recent terrorist attacks in Bangladesh.

“A meeting on internal security on Thursday, chaired by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, reviewed the situation along the border and directed the security agencies to further step up the vigil all along the frontier,” the official said.

Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana, Chief Secretary Lalmalsawma and senior officials of the police, CPMF and BSF deliberated during the meeting on beefing up security in the border areas.

The Chief Minister told the meeting that though there has been no specific threat along the Mizoram border following the Dhaka terror attacks earlier this month, there should not be complacency about the security of the state.

“Better coordination among the security agencies was also given utmost importance at the meeting,” the official added.

Mizoram has a 510-km-long unfenced international border with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh. The BSF has been guarding the Bangladesh border while the Assam Rifles were posted along the Myanmar border.

In Tripura, in view of the recent terrorist attack in Dhaka, BSF’s vigil all along the 856-km border with Bangladesh has been further tightened.

“We have taken several steps along the India-Bangladesh frontier to foil any cross-border movements and entry of any inimical elements,” BSF’s Tripura frontier Inspector General J.B. Sangwan told IANS.

He said: “We have alerted our troops to remain extra alert during both day and night and take appropriate steps according to what the situation dictates.”

Tripura Director General of Police K. Nagaraj said the state government has asked the BSF to maintain maximum alert along the border in view of the terror attack in Dhaka.

“Though there is no specific report of any hostile development, CPMF deployed in the state, and Tripura Police and Tripura State Rifles are keeping a close watch on the prevailing situation,” Nagaraj told reporters.

Mountainous terrain, dense forests and other natural hindrances make the unfenced border porous and vulnerable, enabling illegal immigrants and intruders to cross over without any hurdle.

Of the 856-km India-Bangladesh border with Tripura, a little over 85 per cent has been fenced so far.